The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-27
HnnsRHnI.n SERVICE.

The question of domestic service is source
of never-ending discussion with people of
every sort and condition, from the women
who stop on the street-corner to exchange
condolences concerning the shortcomings of
"my servant girl" to the social scientists
who attempt to solve the problem in the
pages Of dignifed reviews. Some of the essay
lists, who are evidently, Mrs Darlington
says writing for their own amazement, leave
the subject even more befogged than they
find it; but not few have very positive ideas
in regard to the matter, and lay down the law
with an air as of settling the vexed question
for all time Somehow or other, though, the
the puzzle continues to exist. A household
magazine lately undertook to dispose of the
matter by offering su bstantial prize for the
best solution, and with a great flourish of
literary trumpets, published paper contain
ing views of profound character Even this
prize paper was not conclusive, however, for
the trouble still remains. and the writer's still
write about it. In the last issue Of the pub
location referred to, one contributor announces
solved if the women of America would treat
their hired girls in the same man.
ner that men treat their hired help
and illustrates the point by the statement
that a merchant or banker often entertains
his book-keeper at dinner in his own house
and thinks nothing of it; but that neither the
merchants nor the bankers wife would think
Of entertaining the accomplished young
woman" who does her homework, and
would feel outraged beyond measure if her
son should pay the girl social attention. It
is only because this absurd argument in favor
of the social equality of the cook with her
mistress is common, that it merits any at
tention. Its weakness, in the first place, lies
in the assumption that the social question has
any place in the relations existing between
any man and his employees. AS a matter of
fact, the contract between them is purely of
business character. The clerk or book
keeper enters into the merchants service
supremely Indifferent to the probability that
he will not be invited to visit his employer in
his home. If, upon acquaintance, such invi-
tation is extended, the young man is more or
less gratifed; but if it never comes he feels
no resentment, and has no thought that a
stigma has been cast upon him. The same is
true of young women in other occupations
than that of domestic service. They expert
ence no sense of social injury because the
man whose goods they sell or whose type
writer's they operate. fails to take them into
his family. 1t is only female house-servants
who are constantly complaining that they are
not allowed to meet their mistresses in the
parlor on terms of equality.
Another fault with the book keeper illus
tration Is that a comparison of employees of
this class with house servants is unfair and
unreasonable. Whatever may be the cause or
whoever to blame, the fact remains that cooks
and chambermaids are. as rule, illiterate; or
IL not so, at least the intellectual interiors of
persons whose occupations require them to
rcsse-s certain amount of education. SAC